New Products & Services
July 2017
Kaman Precision Products
The new digiVIT digital variable impedance transducer for linear position, displacement and proximity sensing (photo) features a self-tuning bridge that can work with nearly any sensor and any conductive target. The transducer also features simple pushbutton calibration, temperature compensation and zeroing. Its embedded intelligence ensures that all functions are accessible, with no need to connect to a PC to download a configuration file when changing sensors or performing high-level calibrations. The operating temperature range for digiVIT devices is 32 to 122°F, with recommended storage temperatures ranging from –4 to 158°F. — Kaman Precision Products, Inc., Middletown, Conn.
MSA Safety
The Ultima X5000 gas monitor (photo) is a replacement for this company’s Ultima X device, eliminating the need for specialized setup tools or a separate controller. The Ultima X5000 can be operated from the two touch buttons on its OLED display or wirelessly via a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet from up to 75 ft away. Shown prominently on the display screen are a gas reading gage, progress bar, operational status, maintenance alerts and alarms. With the ability to connect two sensor inputs into one transmitter, wiring costs and installation time are significantly reduced. Equipped with this company’s XCell electrochemical sensors, catalytic bead sensors or point infrared (IR) sensors, the monitor detects any two combinations of combustible gases; H2S or CO in multiple ranges; and 0–25% O2. — MSA Safety Inc., Cranberry Township, Pa.
GEMÜ Gebr. Müller Apparatebau
The new eSyDrive motorized actuator (photo) is designed on the basis of the hollow shaft principle in conjunction with technology that does not use brushes or sensors. The self-locking actuator also offers a high level of reproducibility for positioning and is therefore particularly suitable for use in precise control applications. The Ethernet-based eSy web interface, in conjunction with an integrated web server, enables the exchange of parameterization and diagnostics data and the networking of several devices. Depending on the size, the actuator has an actuating speed of between 2 and 6 mm/s. — GEMÜ Gebr. Müller Apparatebau GmbH & Co. KG, Ingelfingen, Germany
Pfeiffer Vacuum
The DuoLine two-stage high-performance rotary vane pumps (photo) cover all low- and medium-vacuum applications, achieving pumping speeds of 1.25 to 11 m3/h. Applications range from mass spectrometry or optical coating to critical industrial applications, such as drying processes, metallurgical processes or resin casting systems. The company has significantly improved the water-vapor tolerance of the pumps by using an optimized gas-ballast system. The DuoLine has a long service life and a pumping speed that is independent of the type of gas. Because of their compact design and optimized cooling, the pumps are very well suited for system integration. — Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH, Aßlar, Germany
Bürkert Fluid Control Systems
The new generation of high-precision mass flowmeters (MFM) and controllers (MFC) for gases (photo) feature an integrated Industrial Ethernet switch and support all standard Industrial Ethernet protocols. This allows the devices to be flexibly integrated in existing systems. The two versions (Type 8741 and 8745) cover a broad measurement and control range. They are used at high and low pressures, as well as for low and high flowrates. Typical applications for mass flowmeters and controllers are in the areas of metal, glass or ceramic processing, coating technology or in the production of foams. MFCs/MFMs are also used in fermenters and water treatment systems. The Type 8741 handles nominal flowrates of up to 150 L/min, while the Type 8745 devices permit a maximum of 2,500 L/min (both relative to N2). — Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, Ingelfingen, Germany
GE Water & Process Technologies
The PROflex reverse osmosis (RO) system (photo) features a new online product configurator that allows users to select the exact flowrate required by an application from a range of PROflex RO products. The recently redesigned system has a smaller footprint than previous models and boasts several design features that enable systems to be designed for specific flow, flux and water requirements. Ten base configurations are available with up to 72 8-in. elements. Various pump sizes are available, along with many options for instrumentation and programmable logic controllers (PLC). Simplified piping streamlines cleaning and modifications, and the pump has been placed in front of the skid for easier maintenance access.— GE Water & Process Technologies, Trevose, Pa.
DuPont Protection Solutions
Tychem 2000 SFR (photo) is a new protective garment designed for use in operations where dual protection against chemical and fire hazard threats is paramount to worker safety. Tychem 2000 SFR provides a barrier against a range of inorganic acids and bases, plus industrial cleaning chemicals, as well as particulate matter. In the event of a flash fire, Tychem 2000 SFR garments will not ignite, and therefore do not contribute to additional burn injury if the wearer uses appropriate flame-resistant (FR) personal protective equipment (PPE). If a fire hazard exists, Tychem 2000 SFR garments must be worn over an appropriate FR garment, along with other PPE that protects workers’ faces, hands and feet. Special features of the Tychem 2000 SFR coverall include: a respirator-fit hood; chin flap with double-sided adhesive tape for secure placement; and elastic at the waist and tunneled elastic at the hood, wrists and ankles for improved fit. — DuPont Protection Solutions, Richmond, Va.
Voith Turbo
The new Veco-Drive electric superimposing gear (photo) combines a mechanical planetary gear with frequency-controlled servo motors. Since the gears only need a small part of the rated power, an overall component efficiency of more than 97% is reached, says the company. Installed between a constant-speed motor and a variable-speed compressor or pump, the new drive combines the reliability of mechanical gears with the productivity of low-voltage variable frequency drives (VFDs). The system was designed for compressor and pump applications with a maximum output speed of 15,000 rpm, maximum output power of 15 MW and a speed adjustment range from 50 to 100%. Compared to a typical full-scale medium-voltage VFD train with a step-up gearbox, the measured system efficiency of a Veco-Drive device is about 2% higher over the whole speed range, resulting in significantly reduced energy consumption. — Voith Turbo, a Group Division of Voith GmbH, Crailsheim, Germany
Sartorius Stedim Biotech
This company’s next-generation Biostat STR (photo) is a fully scalable, single-use bioreactor family based on a conventional stirred-tank design. This new bioreactor range featuring upgraded hardware and software, as well as a fully integrated, new design of Flexsafe STR single-use bags, which ensures quick and easy bioprocess scaleup of biologics and vaccines. The bioreactors are equipped with an improved stainless-steel bag holder for user-friendly installation of the single-use Flexsafe STR bag. The bioreactor series consists of five systems in different sizes, offering working volumes from 12.5 to 2,000 L. — Sartorius Stedim Biotech, Göttingen, Germany
Alfa Laval
The Mixproof Valves valve matrix (photo) is designed to increase product safety, improve cleaning conditions and eliminate risk of cross-contamination, says the manufacturer. The valve matrices can be supplied pre-assembled and pre-tested, as well as fully wired and with all the necessary pneumatic tubing, junction boxes and control panels pre-connected. A valve matrix — also known as a valve cluster — is a way to maximize process efficiency through optimized flow management. Compared to traditional flow plates, a valve matrix is designed to allow simultaneous circulation of liquids — including clean-in-place media — on several levels with the exact number of lines and rows to match the specific requirements of your process. The matrix ensures the flexibility to route multiple products to multiple destinations while other lines are being cleaned. — Alfa Laval AB, Lund, Sweden
Emerson
The Mobrey Hydratect 2462 detection system (photo) is used in applications where the detection of water or steam is vital, such as boilers, steam drums and steam-line drain pots. A functional safety assessment carried out by Exida determined that the Mobrey Hydratect system meets the requirements of safety integrity level (SIL) 3. With capabilities to operate at up to 300 bars and 560°C, Hydratect is intended as a replacement for conventional float switches, and consists of a compact twin-channel electronic unit connected to a pair of electrodes. Each channel gives independent indications of the presence of water or steam that are said to be more reliable than those obtained with electro-mechanical devices. By installing the electrodes in vessels or steam lines and measuring the resistance, the presence of water can be detected, allowing appropriate safety measures to be taken. — Emerson, St. Louis, Mo.
Lödige Maschinenbau
Mixing, granulating, coating, drying and heating and cooling can be performed in this company’s “single-pot” process developed for the food industry. The process performs chemical reactions or mechanical product treatment in one machine; several process steps can take place without having to isolate the intermediate products. Depending on the application, all reactants can be added into the machine right at the beginning of the process or sequentially, as required. The system consists of a mixer composed of a horizontal, cylindrical drum equipped with a main mixing shaft fitted with a shovel that generates a mechanical fluid bed by rotating. Vacuum drying can then be performed in the same machine, saving time and treating the product with care. — Gebr. Lödige Maschinenbau GmbH, Paderborn, Germany
Aspen Technology
Asset Performance Management (APM) is a complete software suite for site, process and equipment-performance management that combines process modeling with realtime big data and machine-learning solutions. The APM suite is designed to increase asset uptime, improve reliability, extend the life of equipment and achieve optimal process performance system-wide. The integrated suite of APM analytics provides prescriptive guidance to address multiple levels of asset performance, including: site-wide risk analysis via Fidelis Reliability software; process analytics to assess the root causes of process disruptions, predict future occurrences and prescribe actions to avoid them; and equipment performance analytics via Mtell software to predict when failures will occur. Also included in APM are pre-packaged analytics for column troubleshooting that use ensemble modeling to provide operational guidance, as well as advanced multivariate analytics for process and batch monitoring.— Aspen Technology, Inc., Bedford, Mass.
COG – C. Otto Gehrckens
VarioPur (photo) is a new product range that includes three high-performance materials based on thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU/AU). Both abrasion and extrusion resistance are at least five times higher than those of the traditional material, NBR (nitrile butyl rubber). The three TPU materials provide excellent gas tightness and a high level of tolerance to a wide range of gases — from oxygen and nitrogen to all synthetic hydrocarbons. The seals exhibit no brittleness as a result of exposure to ozone or oxygen, and undergo low swelling in mineral oil, hydraulic media and lubricating greases, and have generally good chemical resistance and dynamic behavior. In addition to the high-performance universal TPU material VarioPur 195, the VarioPur 295 delivers outstanding low-temperature flexibility down to –50°C. VarioPur 395 is resistant to hydrolysis, and is extremely stable in aqueous media, including oil-water emulsions, water-oil emulsions and aqueous polyglycol solutions. — COG – C. Otto Gehrckens GmbH & Co. KG, Pinneberg, Germany
Water Planet
The PolyCera Hydro (photo) is a new ultrafiltration membrane for drinking water applications where total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity and pathogen removal are of concern. PolyCera Hydro can be used in place of conventional polymeric membranes for drinking-water treatment in high-purity and ultrapure water filtration, as well as in surface water, seawater and groundwater treatment facilities. While PolyCera Hydro is designed for drinking-water applications, the PolyCera Titan model is available for industrial wastewater treatment. All PolyCera membranes offer extreme hydrophilicity, which leads to improved fouling resistance and ease of cleaning, says the manufacturer. The membranes are stable in extreme pH conditions, high temperatures and oxidants, and are highly tolerant to oil and solvents. — Water Planet, Los Angeles, Calif.
Beumer Group
The new fillpac bag placer (photo) enables efficient bag filling for materials from the construction, cement, mineral and chemical industries. With its standardized modular design, the fillpac provides numerous setup options. For instance, users can set it up at any angle by adding an optional turntable, thereby considerably reducing the required floor space. It can also automatically adjust to different valve-bag formats — either valve-bottom bags or flat-valve bags can be used. The fillpac model for valve-bottom bags can be used for polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and paper bags with bag lengths of 350 to 650 mm and bag widths of 230 and 550 mm. The placer for flat-valve bags features a patented opening system in the placing unit that ensures that the bags are correctly applied on the filling spouts and avoids standstill during the filling process. — Beumer Group GmbH & Co. KG, Beckum, Germany
Aerzener Maschinenfabrik
The sound waves from the discharge side of this company’s Delta Screw compressor can reach 170–190 dB. Therefore, a downstream silencer is obligatory, as with other compressors. In conventional dissipative silencers, the high frequencies of the sound waves lead to considerable vibration forces, which have a damaging effect on the piping and the insulating material. This so-called microfriction wears out the filter material over time and can damage even stainless steel in the long run, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the silencer. The erosion of fine particles can also contaminate the process air. To eliminate these challenges, the company has patented a reactive silencer (photo). The special piping system generates a defined counter-noise, which superimposes the sound waves with a certain delay and thus neutralizes them. The company now also equips its direct-drive screw compressors with reactive silencers. — Aerzener Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Aerzen, Germany
GM International
The new HART Multiplexer System (photo) offers the possibility to drastically reduce the number of multiplexer modules, while maintaining the ability to control up to 7,936 channels. Through the integration of multiplexing units in the Termination Board (TB-D5001-HRT), this system needs only one modem to control 256 channels, allowing users to manage up to 7,936 channels utilizing only 31 modules. Compared to the current HART solutions available on the market, which require 496 modules, the HART Multiplexer System greatly reduces the number of required multiplexer modules. The communication speed toward the system has also been greatly improved, reaching 115,200 bits per second (bps), compared to the standard 38,400 bps of conventional systems. The HART System is certified for SIL 3 applications, in compliance with IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 standards. — GM International S.r.l., Villasanta, Italy
Vaisala
The HPP272 probe for the measurement of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (photo) can measure not only the hydrogen peroxide content (ppm) of bio-decontamination processes, but also temperature, relative humidity (RH, only water vapor) and relative saturation (RS, whole gas mixture). The probe’s sensor has a purge function that helps maintain measurement accuracy between calibrations and extends the operating life of the probe. This function heats the sensor rapidly to remove possible impurities left in the sensor’s polymer films. According to the manufacturer, the HPP272 probes require calibration only once a year and very little maintenance. The sensor’s intelligent measurement algorithm and heating function ensure water cannot condense on the sensor. This keeps measurement data reliable, even in extremely high humidities. — Vaisala Oyj, Helsinki, Finland